Edge-pumped Composites for Ultra-Short Pulse (USP) Lasers

Aqwest proposes to develop a novel edge-pumped composite disk laser amplifier for ultra-short pulse (USP) lasers offering operation at high-average power (HAP) at near-diffraction limited beam quality (BQ). The project will produce an amplifier for USP laser with the following major benefits to the Army and the DOD: 1) Transverse absorbed pump distribution uniformity >90% 2) Less than 1/20 of wave optical error for good BQ 3) kW average output power level per disk 4) Predicted laser efficiency as high as 51% 5) Compatible with multiple materials and wavelengths 6) Ultra-compact and lightweight packaging 7) Suitable for USP, conventional pulsed lasers, and continuous wave (cw) lasers Innovative cooling provides effective thermal management while limiting related thermal lensing. The composite disk amplifier is suitable for use with a variety of USP and other HAP laser systems. In Phase I, we will identify USP laser materials, evaluate methods for fabrication of composites, design composite disk amplifiers including pump diode array based on the most promising materials, and validate performance by numerically simulating pulse amplification, amplified spontaneous emission, spatial hole burning, thermal management, and optical distortions. As an option, we will validate the fabrication process by constructing a sample gain material composite disk.